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Warren Bird

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American writer and researcher of megachurches
Dr. Warren Bird

Warren Bird (born 1956) is an American writer and researcher of megachurches. He has authored or co-authored 34 books on church leadership, including Emotionally Healthy Church and Prepare Your Church for the Future, which have both achieved the bestseller status of 100,000 or more units in print. He has also overseen more than 25 research reports on issues affecting large and growing churches. His research on megachurches is regularly cited in mainstream and religious media. He currently serves as Senior Vice President of Research and Equipping for the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).

Life and Ministry

Bird was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and lived there until his college years. His formal academic training comes from Wheaton College (BA, MA), Alliance Theological Seminary (MDiv) and Fordham University (PhD). An ordained minister, he has served in several church roles including church planter and assistant pastor, including his longest tenure being for 10 years (1997-2006) on staff at Princeton Alliance Church. While pastoring, he also served as long time adjunct professor at Alliance Theological Seminary.

He has been licensed for ministry under the Christian & Missionary Alliance.

Bird is married to his college sweetheart. He and his wife, Michelle, live in a suburb of New York City.

Research and Writing

In his early years, Bird served on Carl George’s senior management team of the Pasadena-based Charles E. Fuller Institute of Evangelism and Church Growth where he visited, interviewed, researched, and profiled many of the largest, fastest-growing, or newest churches in North America. In subsequent years, he did similar research and development for the Canada-based Leadership Centre Willow Creek Canada, and for the Asbury Theological Seminary-based Beeson Institute for Advanced Church Leadership (1996-2006). From 2006 to 2018 Bird served as Director of Research and Intellectual Capital Development at Leadership Network.

In 2018 he became Senior Vice President of Research and Equipping at the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit accrediting agency designed to enhance trust and certify integrity in Christ-centered churches and ministries.

He has compiled and maintained a sortable list of US and Global megachurches published by Leadership Network since 2010.

Articles

Bird has published more than 200 magazine articles on church leadership including two cover stories for Christianity Today and the cover story for Evangelicals (the National Association of Evangelicals). He has written a “Leadership from the Global Church” column for each issue of Outreach magazine since 2014. He has also contributed collaborative chapters or sections to 8 other books. He has also written guest columns on megachurch issues such as “Not a Baby Boomer Phenomenon—Megachurches Draw Twice as Many People Under 45” in Christian Post. In 2022, he oversaw the nation's largest research to date on new churches, many of which were started by megachurches.

Megachurch Research, US and Global

Bird's research has focused mainly on megachurches (Protestant congregations with 2,000 or more weekly attenders). He has authored more than 25 published reports based on original research including a collection of reports on comparative trends in US megachurches. This includes a 2021 co-authored study that was the nation’s largest-ever study of megachurches, “The Changing Reality in America’s Largest Churches: Megachurch Research Report.” Specialty studies include Canadian megachurches, internships/residencies in large churches, multisite megachurches, and salaries in megachurches. He also co-authored a scholarly chapter on the global megachurch phenomenon. He has contributed articles to Review of Religious Research and to the Journal for the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion.

Books

Bird has authored or co-authored 34 books (listed below). Bird received the prestigious Gold Medallion Award, the top honor given by the international trade association for Christian publishers, for Emotionally Healthy Church (2004).Teams that Thrive was named Leadership Resource of the Year by Outreach magazine in 2019.

Translations of his books include Burmese, Chinese, Czech, French, German, Indonesian, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.

Books are listed in order of publication newest to oldest:

  • The Resilience Factor: A Step-by-Step Guide to Catalyze an Unbreakable Team, Ryan T. Hartwig, Léonce B. Crump Jr., and Warren Bird, foreword by Tod Bolsinger (ISBN 978-1-5140-0568-2)
  • Better Together: Making Church Mergers Work, expanded and updated edition, Jim Tomberlin and Warren Bird, foreword by Craig Groeschel (ISBN 1506463355, 9781506463353)
  • Next: Pastoral Succession that Works, expanded and updated edition. William Vanderbloemen and Warren Bird, foreword by John Ortberg (ISBN 9781540900173)
  • Liquid Church: 6 Powerful Currents to Saturate Your City for Christ, Tim Lucas and Warren Bird, foreword by Carey Nieuwhof (ISBN 9780310100102)
  • Hero Maker: Five Essential Practices for Leaders to Multiply Leaders, Dave Ferguson and Warren Bird, foreword by J.D. Greear (ISBN 9780310536932)
  • How To Break Growth Barriers: Revise Your Role, Release Your People and Capture Overlooked Opportunities For Your Church, Carl George and Warren Bird, foreword by Carey Nieuwhof (ISBN 978-0801092466)
  • God Dreams: 12 Vision Templates for Finding and Focusing Your Church’s Future, Will Mancini and Warren Bird, foreword by Alan Hirsch (ISBN 978-1433688454)
  • Teams that Thrive: Five Disciplines of Collaborative Church Leadership, Ryan Hartwig and Warren Bird, foreword by Dave Ferguson (ISBN 9780801092466, 9780830897575)
  • Next: Pastoral Succession that Works, William Vanderbloemen and Warren Bird (ISBN 9780801016479)
  • Wisdom from Lyle E. Schaller: The Elder Statesman of Church Leadership, Lyle Schaller and Warren Bird (ISBN 1426749104, 9781426749100)
  • Better Together: Making Church Mergers Work. Jim Tomberlin and Warren Bird (ISBN 9781118131305)
  • The Other 80%: Turning Your Church’s Spectators into Active Disciples, Scott Thumma and Warren Bird (ISBN 0470891297)
  • Viral Churches: Helping Church Planters Become Movement Makers, Ed Stetzer and Warren Bird (ISBN 9780470550458)
  • Unleashing the Word: Rediscovering the Public Reading of Scripture, Max McLean and Warren Bird (ISBN 978-0310292708
  • A Multi-site Church Roadtrip: Exploring the New Normal, Geoff Surratt, Greg Ligon, and Warren Bird (ISBN 0310293944, 9780310293941)
  • Innovative Transitions: How Change Can Take Your Church to the Next Level, Dale Galloway with Warren Bird (ISBN 9780834123397)
  • Missing in America: Making an Eternal Difference in the World Next Door, Tom Clegg and Warren Bird (ISBN 9780764435638)
  • Eleven Innovations in the Local Church: How Today’s Leaders Can Learn, Discern, and Move into the Future, Elmer Towns, Ed Stetzer and Warren Bird (ISBN 9780830737864)
  • Innovation 2007: Connecting Innovators to Multiply. Leadership Network.
  • The Multi-Site Church Revolution: Being One Church in Many Locations, Geoff Surratt, Greg Ligon, and Warren Bird (ISBN 0310270154)
  • Momentum for Life: Sustaining Personal Health, Integrity, and Strategic Focus as a Leader, Michael Slaughter with Warren Bird and Kim Miller (ISBN 0687331919)
  • Culture Shift: Transforming Your Church from the Inside Out, Robert Lewis and Wayne Cordeiro with Warren Bird (ISBN 0787975303, 9788957312551)
  • The Emotionally Healthy Church: A Strategy for Discipleship That Actually Changes Lives, revised edition, by Pete Scazzero with Warren Bird (achieved bestseller status) (ISBN 0310246547)
  • Starting a New Church: How to Plant a High-Impact Congregation, with accompanying DVD, by Dale Galloway with Warren Bird (ISBN 0834119854)
  • UnLearning Church: Transforming Spiritual Leadership for the Emerging Church, by Michael Slaughter with Warren Bird (ISBN 0764422979)
  • On-Purpose Leadership: Multiplying Your Ministry by Becoming a Leader of Leaders, by Dale Galloway with Warren Bird (ISBN 0834118823)
  • Lost in America: How Your Church Can Impact the World Next Door (this book was updated and replaced by Missing in America) by Tom Clegg and Warren Bird (ISBN 076442257X)
  • Into the Future: Turning Today’s Church Trends into Tomorrow’s Opportunities, by Elmer Towns and Warren Bird (ISBN 0800757254)
  • Real Followers: Beyond Virtual Christianity, Michael Slaughter with Warren Bird (ISBN 0687033411)
  • Nine Keys to Effective Small-Group Leadership: How Lay Leaders Can Establish Healthy Cells, Classes and Teams, by Carl George with Warren Bird (ISBN 978-0979535000)
  • The Comprehensive Guide to Cassette Ministry, Johnny Berguson with Warren Bird (ISBN 1883906121)
  • The Coming Church Revolution, by Carl George with Warren Bird (ISBN 0800755286)
  • How to Break Growth Barriers, by Carl George with Warren Bird (ISBN 0801038537)
  • Prepare Your Church for the Future, by Carl George, edited Warren Bird (achieved bestseller status) (ISBN 0800753658)

References

  1. "Warren Bird". Abingdon Press. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  2. "News & Stories » Warren Bird". Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  3. "Authors | Baker Publishing Group". bakerpublishinggroup.com. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  4. Gilbreath, Edward (19 June 1995). "Failed Ventures Imperil Fuller Institute". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  5. Network, Leadership (10 July 2013). "Author Insights with Warren Bird". Leadership Network. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  6. "ECFA Staff". www.ecfa.org. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  7. "World Megachurches". Leadership Network. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  8. "February 7". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  9. Bird, Warren (18 November 2014). "How Pastors Are Passing the Leadership Baton". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  10. "Warren Bird, Author at National Association of Evangelicals". National Association of Evangelicals. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  11. "Outreachmagazine.com/warren-bird".
  12. "Not a Baby Boomer Phenomenon – Megachurches Draw Twice as Many People Under 45". www.christianpost.com. 25 June 2014. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  13. "Church Planting Surveys". ECFA.
  14. "World Megachurches". Leadership Network. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  15. "Canadian Large Church Studies". Leadership Network. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  16. Bird, Warren (4 February 2016). "Leaders in Training: Internships and Residencies Help Churches Shape Future Leaders". Leadership Network. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  17. "How we Help: Multisite". Leadership Network. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  18. "Large Church Salary Resources – 2019". Leadership Network. 7 June 2016. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  19. Brunn, Stanley D. (2015). "Chapter 123: Megafaith for the Megacity: The Global Megachurch Phenomenon". In Thumma, Scott; Bird, Warren (eds.). The Changing World Religion Map: Sacred Places, Identities, Practices and Politics. Vol. IV. New York: Springer Dordrecht Heidelberg. pp. 2331–2352. ISBN 978-94-017-9375-9.
  20. "ECPA Gold Medallion Book Award | Book awards | LibraryThing". www.librarything.com. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  21. "14th Annual Outreach Resources of the Year". 27 February 2017.
  22. "Zachej.sk • kniha: Emocionálně zdravá církev (Peter Scazzero)". www.zachej.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  23. Scazzero, Peter (2010). Je souffre, écoute-moi ! : pour une Église à l'écoute des émotions. Warren Bird. Paris: Empreinte temps présent. ISBN 978-2-35614-025-8.
  24. Bird, Warren. "Hero Maker: Fünf grundlegende Prinzipien, wie Leiter andere zu wahrer Größe führen können (Material zum geistlichen Dienst, Bd. 26) (German Edition)". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  25. "9783880660427: Die Meta Gemeinde - Gemeindemodell für die Zukunft - AbeBooks - Carl F. George: 3880660425". www.abebooks.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  26. George, Carl F. (2002). Yŏllin so-gŭrup tach'in so-gŭrup : K'al Choji (Carl F. George) ŭi so-gŭrup lidŏ rŭl wihan 9-kaji sŏnggong wŏlli = Nine keys to effective small group leadership. Pak, Chong-hun., Chŏng, Chong-hyŏn., 박종훈., 정종현. (1-p'an ed.). Sŏul-si: Kyohoe Sŏngjang Yŏn'guso. ISBN 89-8304-043-2. OCLC 50203220.
  27. Slaughter, Michael. (2005). Mirae rŭl tamnŭn kyohoe. Bird, Warren., Kim, Hyŏng-wŏn., 김 형원. (Ch'op'an ed.). Sŏul: Kukche Cheja Hullyŏnwŏn. ISBN 89-5731-082-7. OCLC 731704460.
  28. Lewis, Robert, 1949 November 24- (2008). Insaidŭaut kyohoe kaehyŏk iyagi. Cordeiro, Wayne., Pak, Kyu-t'ae., 박 규태. (Ch'op'an ed.). Sŏul: Kukche Cheja Hullyŏnwŏn. ISBN 978-89-5731-255-1. OCLC 725000163.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  29. Scazzero, Peter, 1956- (2004). Chŏngsŏjŏk ŭro kŏn'ganghan kyohoe : saram kwa kyohoe rŭl pyŏnhwa sik'inŭn yŏsŏt kaji cheja hullyŏn. Bird, Warren., Ch'oe, Chong-hun., 최종훈. (Ch'op'an ed.). Sŏul-si: Ire Sŏwŏn. ISBN 89-7435-351-2. OCLC 122359435.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  30. "bedre-sammen".
  31. Bird, Warren; Scazzero, Pete (2014). Emotionally Healthy Church: Igreja emocionalmente saudável. Vida. ISBN 978-8538303046.
  32. Stetzer, Ed; Bird, Warren. Viral Churches: вирусная церковь как ПомоЧь Организаторам СТЕТЗЕР БЕРД.
  33. Ferguson, Dave; Bird, Warren (2019). Creador de héroes: Cinco prácticas esenciales para la formación de líderes (Exponential Series) (Spanish ed.). Vida. ISBN 978-1404110366.
  34. Scazzero, Peter; Bird, Warren (2005). Una Iglesia Emocianalimente Sana (The Emotionally Healthy Church): A Strategy for Discipleship That Actually Changes Lives (Spanish) (Spanish ed.). Vida. ISBN 978-0829738865.
  35. Surratt, Geoff; Ligon, Greg; Bird, Warren (2018). La Revolución de la Iglesia Multisitio: Ser una iglesia en muchos lugares (Spanish ed.). Editorial LiderInnova.
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